Review of Titus (1999) by Lee G — 14 Oct 2007

Having seen two Julie Taymor films in one weekend is a matter of pure coincidence... but it does allow for some contemplation and observation of her blatant talent. Julie Taymor will be remembered for creating memorable characters, but above all, an original beautifully filmed work.

All of her films that I have seen (Titus, Frida, and Across the Universe) stand separately as works that function to display characters pushed by their circumstances to their limits and either choose life or death.

Titus, specifically, is an epic film that I honestly can't believe I hadn't heard of before now. Shakespeare has made some wonderful, okay- the best, tragedies in literature, and there have been some amazing film adaptations.

.. and some... not so good ones. Titus, thankfully, is one of those good ones. Anthony Hopkins proves to have an intense range beyond that of The Silence of the Lambs, while still being able to conjure up memories of that most wonderful performance.

Everyone in the cast was wonderful, but the most important element in appreciating this story is that Taymor unconventionally goes about telling this period piece. It reminded me, in that way, of the Hamlet version with Ethan Hawke and Bill Murray, set in modern day New York City.

These characters have guns, pool tables, and refrigerators, but the story is still technically set in ancient Roman times. That, coupled with the including of a boy from modern times, allows the audience to identify more with the story and involve themselves more with the story than simply observe the actions.

Also, in the end, when the dinner scene 'relocates' itself to the coliseum full of modern people, the timeline-gap is bridged yet again.